2023-09-09 Oregon Trip to Visit Family and Friends

- September 09, 2023

Red Bluff, California

Jeeps - 11

Steps - 6063

ON THE ROAD AGAIN

Oregon is our destination to visit Ryan, Amanda, Addison, Tucker, and all the animals. Also, to visit Roma and Dennis and see their new place. They were part of the group that went to the Grand Canyon and the five parks in Utah this past May. R&D moved to Coos Bay (on the Oregon coast) from Rocklin (above Sacramento) about a year ago.

We thought we would only be gone a few weeks when we first discussed this trip. Not so! Once I researched the National Parks in Oregon, our trip expanded. We will visit three Oregon National Parks: Crater Lake, John Day Fossil Beds, and the Oregon Caves. There are six, but I could not fit them into our schedule. This means we must return, which will be fine since we love Oregon.

The only thing about driving to Oregon is the long ride on I5. Acres and acres of almond, olive, walnut trees, sunflower fields, grapes, and I’m sure I missed one. No wonder we are the almond capital of the world. Most of the almond trees have been shaken, and the nuts are on the ground drying. I did see one orchard already in Windrows. This is harvest season for almonds. This link below is great if you want to learn about harvesting almonds. It’s from 2018, but the process is the same. One of my aunts is an almond grower for Blue Diamond, so I am familiar with this process. I’ve spent many days at her ranch watching the process, which is fascinating.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ql9NIPilcPI

And these are the questions I asked Siri while driving today.

How many pounds of almonds does California produce?

How many acres of almond orchards are there in California?

What are the top things to do in Red Bluff?

Who is the largest producer of sunflower seeds?

How long until we reach Red Bluff?

What is the population of Red Bluff?

How many casinos along I5?

Our home for the night is Red Bluff KOA Journey on the Sacramento River. What a great park - clean, grass between sites, large pull-through sites, huge pool area, and we do not hear the freeway. Most KOA Journeys are right off the freeway. The weather is excellent. I sat outside and worked on this blog while the chef cooked dinner. We bought Hagen Daz ice cream for dessert at the KOA store earlier. Yummy!

The person at the front desk told us to go over to the pond and check out the two ducks they raised here in the park. There were eight total, but the others had flown away. She doesn’t think the two are going to leave. They know where the food comes from.

After dinner, we walked over to the pond to see the two ducks, and sure enough, they were swimming around and not scared of us. Pretty ducks. The pond area has water shooting up from the middle, so I can see how they like it. There are three separate ponds next to each other—a lovely area to walk around.

We then walked down to the River and around the park to the front gate. There was a sign about how the elderberry longhorn beetle is listed as a federally threatened species and not to bother it, not that I would want too. Due to mosquitos, we did not want to stay by the river too long. We walked around the outside of the park to the front gate. The gate code we were given did not work on the small gate, but a truck came in, and we walked through the big gate.

We left the air conditioner on, so the RV was very comfortable. I finished my blog, and Barry checked the current standings of the US Open. A cup of chamomile tea is in my future.